Eels crush Tigers at Telstra

The Parramatta Eels have snapped the Wests Tigers winning run at Telstra Stadium tonight, dismantling the home side by 38 points to 8 in front of over 22,000 fans.

The game started poorly for the visiting side, an absolute disaster seeing Nathan Cayless spill the pill from the kickoff, only for Luke Burt to save the day by utilising a short drop out and gaining possession back for the Eels. A seventh minute penalty aside, it was all the Eels as they managed two quick tries to lead 10-2 after 24 minutes.

Following the visitors' second try the Tigers failed to capitalised on a glut of possession, eventually turning the ball over with five remaining in the half, giving the Eels a soft try close to the line for five-eighth Brett Finch.

The Eels took a 16-2 lead to the break and so far the Tigers had failed to contain Parramatta's offloading and second phase play, and it showed as the second half started, Feleti Mateo and then Ben Smith crossing for tries in the opening ten minutes of the half to take them out to a 24-point lead. A try to Luke Burt not long after a sickening head clash between PJ Marsh and Brett Hodgson left the latter dazed on the ground sent Parramatta 30 points clear. Hodgson did get up and play on, but looked terribly worse for wear.

The Tigers only try of the match came to Chris Lawrence after they finally pierced the Eels solid defence. The scoring accounts closed with five minutes remaining with a try to Feleti Mateo - his second - but could have been plenty more had PJ Marsh not been held down by Tigers half John Morris, who was sent to the Sin Bin for a professional foul in the 69th minute.

The victory will send Parramatta swelling with confidence after playing some great football and offloading at will - the real test now in the biting cold at Canberra Stadium next Saturday evening. The Tigers will take to Newcastle on Sunday hoping to bounce back after what can only be described as a disappointing performance. Robbie Farah was kept very quiet as the Eels back ran riot, Ben Smith and Luke Burt impressing greatly while from the forwards Fuifui Moimoi and Feleti Mateo were both leading from the front.

Telstra Stadium is tonights venue - two teams in some good winning form in Parramatta, recently toppling both the Cowboys and Warriors going into tonights game, while the Wests Tigers are hot on the back of a winning streak of six after losing their first four games. Last week they managed to put away Penrith by a single point but will be looking for a far greater winning margin.

Wests Tigers have a few changes to the program:
Danny Galea is out; Chris Lawrence to the Bench, Shannon McDonnell to Wing, Daniel Fitzhenry starting Centre.

17 min: TRY Parramatta Eels
Eric Grothe scores an absolutely amazing try in the corner, after some swift work from the Eels backline to float him the ball in the corner. Conversion attempt by Luke Burt unsuccessful.
Parramatta Eels 4-2

24 min: TRY Parramatta Eels
Another brilliant four pointer this time to Parramatta's opposite winger Jarryd Hayne. Some great hands allow the try to be scored under the posts from long range. Conversion attempt by Luke Burt successful.
Parramatta Eels 10-2

31 min: Parramatta suffering through any number of penalties as the Tigers' attack still fails to penetrate the line.

33 min: Tigers held up over the line, but then force another set after trapping Brett Finch in goal. All the momentum with the home side at the moment, just no tries to show for it.

36 min: TRY Parramatta Eels
Finch breaks through some soft defence as runs the ball at the line and plants it down. The Eels going in strong to the break here with just a few minutes remaining. Conversion attempt by Luke Burt successful.
Parramatta Eels 16-2

HALFTIME Parramatta Eels 16 Wests Tigers 2
It's been all the Eels despite the Tigers holding a lion's share of possession between the 20th and 35th minute. Some flashy tries early made way for some basic metre-eating play later in the half but everything Parramatta touches so far has turned to gold - everything that is except for Burt & Cayless's disastrous calamity at kickoff - Burt letting the ball bouncing into the unexpecting arms of Cayless, who dropped the ball. Luckily Luke Burt pulled off a short drop out for the third time in 2007 and earned them possession back.

The Tigers can win this one if they stop forcing offloads, but they will need to go up the middle with the Eels' sliding defence doing wonders to keep the home side tryless after forty minutes.

Stay tuned and we'll be back with the second half in just a few moments.

41 min: Back underway at the Olympic Stadium for the second half here.

45 min: TRY Parramatta Eels
Back-rower Feleti Mateo is in under the posts and the Eels look ready to run away with this one - the Tigers just not wrapping up the ball carrier. Conversion attempt by Luke Burt successful.
Parramatta Eels 22-2

47 min: The Eels earn a penalty after a late shot from Fulton on Luke Burt on tackle five. Eels to attack now.

FULLTIME Parramatta Eels 38 Wests Tigers 8
Fulltime siren has sounded, and the Eels have convincingly downed the Tigers 38-8 to end their big winning streak and extend their own, in front of a crowd of 22,245.